LAWRENCE — A Kansas University study shows a link between teenagers who abuse alcohol, tobacco and marijuana and aggressive behavior. KU researchers did a study of 152 predominantly Hispanic high school students in Kansas City, Missouri. The study found a consistent link between proactive aggression and substance use, KU Professor Paula Fite said. Fite defines proactive aggression as goal-oriented – what she describes as ‘You have something that I want — and I’m going to get it.’ She said other risk factors, such as a prevalence of violence in students’ neighborhoods, don’t show similar links with aggression. The findings will appear in the “Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse”. She says other KU research shows the same link between substance abuse and aggression for white and black teens as well. She says research shows a strong link between proactive aggression and antisocial and delinquent teen behavior. Fite says the research shows that proactive aggressive behavior should be a key target for the prevention of substance use.
Updated 5/15/13 @ 10:47 pm
